Filing drawer for autographic registers



March 24, 1953 c. J. MANUEL. 2,532,635

` FILING DRAWER FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS original Filed July 11, 1946 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 1:11, 121672 for CHA/nfs .j MANUEL Patented Mar. 24,195.3

FILING DRAWER FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Charles J. Manuel, Durham, N.H., assigner to Moore Business Forms, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Original application July 11, 1946, Serial No.682,815. Divided and this application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,089

3 Claims. (Cl. S12-319) This invention relates to improvements in drawerstructure specially adapted for autographic registers of the portabletype but adapted also for use in other relations. Quite commonly inautographic registers of this type the record material'is in the form oflong continuous record strips arranged in superposed relation with eachother, disposed in a supply pack such as a zigzag at pack in which thelong continuous record strips are zigzag-folded, and the record stripsare adapted to be pulled out manually from the supply pack over a flatplaten or writing plate and checked and aligned in Writing position onthe platen where they are interleaved in transfer relation with carbonsheets or similar transfer material.

A further object of the invention is to provide for registers of theclass mentioned and for similar structures, an improved and commerciallypracticable mounting for a projectable and retractable record slipreceiving drawer, so as to assure at all times the free and unobstructedmovements of the drawer. According to an illustrative arrangement forthis purpose, the projecable drawer is mounted so that its oppositelongitudinal sides are spaced inwardly from the sides of the casing andprotected by interior longitudinal frame `members such as flangedmembers forming longitudinal reinforcing structural elements of thecasing.

A further object of the invention is to provide for autographicregisters of the class mentioned, an improved arrangement of aprojecting spring for projecting the record slip receiving drawerwithout binding or other obstruction to the movements thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in thefollowing detailed disclosure of an illustrative but preferredembodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious as thedisclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

`For a more comprehensive disclosure of the Y nature, objects andadvantages of the invention,

reference is had to the following detailed disclosure and to theaccompanying drawings, in which: f

lig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable autographic registerembodying the invention;

(Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sec-` tion takensubstantially on the longitudinal center line of the register;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 3--3of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the lower casing section andshowing the mounting of the record slip drawer.

This application is a division of applicants prior application SerialNo. 682,815 for Casing Structure of Portable Autographic Registers,filed July 11, 1946, which has now matured into Patent No. 2,529,302.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the illustrativeembodiment of the invention there shown, the improved structure isembodied in an autographic register of the portable type that can beconveniently moved from place to place as required in actual use, or canbe held in the hand of the user during entry of inscriptions upon therecord strips. The improved structure embodies a, lower casing section land an upper casing or cover 2. The lower casing section has a bottom 3and side Walls 4 and spaced inwardly from the respective side walls arelongitudinal structural fianged vframe members or Z-bars 5, the upperflanges 6 of which extend outwardly away from each other and the lowerflanges l extend inwardly toward each other in contactingV relation withthe bottom 3 to which they are rmly secured in any desired manner, asfor example by welding or brazing or by rivets or similar attachingdevices. The casing is preferably constructed of sheet metal .or otherappropriate sheet material.

Attached to the upper reinforcing flanges 6 of the Z-bars is ahorizontal reinforcing division plate 8 preferably extending forsubstantially the length and breadth ofthe casing and having upturnedlongitudinal reinforcing edge anges 8. The division plate 8 is thusspaced above the bottom 3 to provide a compartment for a longitudinallymovable drawer 9 for receiving loose inscribed record sheets or slips.The drawer is positioned between the Z-bars 5 being thus spaced fromeach of the opposite side walls of the casing and protected from injurysuch, for example, as bending or distortion of the casing structure thatmight be caused by rough handling. TheZ-bars and the division plate 8and their connections form a reinforced structure and protection for thedrawer resistant to distortion so as to insure free unobstructedmovements of the drawer in its opening and closing movements.

The upper casing section 2 includes opposite side walls l arranged toalign with and close against the corresponding side walls ll of thelower casing section I, a top plate or wall II, a front wall or plateI2, and a rear wall I3. The front wall I2 includes a heavy plateattached in any appropriate manner as by means of rivets to the sheetmetal plate forming the cover. The top plate II is provided with awriting opening through which the record strips are exposed forreceiving the written inscriptions.

At its forward end the cover section 2 is provided with a hinge I4connected to the forward extremity of the reinforcing division plate 81and to the end wall i2, the division plate being onset upwardly at 8a tofacilitate hinge attachment. This hinge provides a mounting whereby thecover'section can be swung upwardlyto provide access to the interior ofthe register. A spring latch I5 is provided at the rear end of the coversection being attached to the latter by means of ka leaf spring l andhaving a lower latching extension I'I engaging with a latching shoulderI8 formed on the rearward end of the division platea.-

Positioned above the division plate 8 is a platen section I 9 having anVupper flatplaten or writing plate 20 and opposite longitudinal sidewalls 2l spaced inwardly from the respective side walls I0 of, the coversection so as to form a side compartment for receiving and housing asupply roll 22 of transfer material such as strips C of carbon paper,and also an opposite side compartment for receiving an operating cran-kor handle 23 for record strip forwarding mechanism which may be of anypreferred known type Such, for example,. as disclosed in Patent No.2,570,799,

granted to L. F. Hageman` and C. J. Manuel. The

platen section I9 is attached through lower outturned flanges 2li to thereinforcing division plate 8 and the upper anges of the Z-bars 5 in anywell known manner so as to further reinforce the structure.

When. the platen section i9 is assembledy as described,` a housing orstorage space is provided between the platen section and the divisionplate 8 for a supply packet S2 of long` continuous record.

strips S',y any desired number of which may be interfolded in zigzagkformation to form the supply packet. These record strips are led. fromthe supply packet. into writing` position on the' platen. Beneath thewriting opening of the topv plate. Il the recordV strips may beinterleaved` in transfer relation with the carbon strips C which areheld in operative position at their ends opposite to the supply roll 22-by means of a clamping bar.

As particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the sliding drawer 9 forreceiving loose inscribed rec"- ord slips is mounted for longitudinalprojectionl and retraction by means of anti-friction supporting rollers25 rotatably mounted on the outer side of the side walls of the drawer.The vertical or upright webs of the structural Z-bars 5 are laterallyspacedv apart a slightly greater distance than the outside width of thedrawer Q thus providing spaces in which the rollers 25 are received.These rollers thus are supported upon the lower flanges 1 of the Z-barswhich form strong supporting rails for thedrawer. The

frame structure of the register including the longitudinal Z-bars 5connected to the reinforcing division plate 8 and to the flanges 223 ofthe platen section I9 provides a strong thoroughly reinforced structurecapable of withstandingrough usage and avoiding distortions so as to oneend to the rear wall of the drawer by an attachment 2 and at itsopposite end to a supporting bracket 28 by means of an attachment 29. Asclearly shown in the drawings, the total axial length of the coil spring26 is preferably greater than the maximum distance between the rear endof the drawer and the point of attachment 29, and thus the coil spring26 assumes the conguration of a bight configuration, wider or narrowerdepending upon the position of the drawer. The bracket 28 may b'attached to the bottom 3 of the lower casifig section. A limiting stopfor limiting `the forward or projected movement of the drawer is shownin the form of a flexible and pliable member 30 which may be attached atits opposite ends tov the respective spring attachments 21 and 28.'I'his limiting' stop' 3U may be a string, cord or tape constructed ofany suitable flexible materialsuch as textile',` leather or the like.One effective manner of attaching the cord 393 as shown is to pass" itthrough the entire length of the inner passageway of the' coil spring 26and to tie the ends together as at- 3|'. The forwarding spring ispositioned and .stressed to exert drawer projecting effort substantiallycentrally of theA drawer so as' t'o prevent irregular or bindingmovements durfiin'g drawer projection. It will be noted that the s`ids"of the spring 2l; contact with theV rear wall of the drawer and with thebracket 2E, thus assisting cer-ite ng the projecting effort and insteadying thev drawer in its movements and avoiding binding. The draweris checked: in its neri-nal open position by means of the flexibledrawer limiting Ystop 3b? as indicated in brokenl lines in Fig. itwillbe noted that the convoluti'cns of the coil sprl-iig- 26 aresomewhat open and thi-is the spring is contractible axially to a certainextent and it will be obvious that when the draweifs'iiddenly' reachesits forward limit'cf movement' as deter; mined by the slack portion ofthe: spihg'fwhich contains the joined ends 3l,- tlie entire` loop ofthestring 30 will be tautened and the drawer will be checked quietly withahionin'g action.

A latch for holding the drawer closed' positionl in oppositionl to theproj'ecti'g spring 26 may be provided adjacent the forward of thedrawer, with automatic latch release operated by the operationV of therecord strip forwarding mechanism as fully described in the (Spendingapplication above referred to. 4Sincevt dr wer' latch does not form apartofthe'piesent i'nvention, it is unnecessary to describ'eit indetail.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments' of the invention could be made witliii't" dp'ari'g' from the scope thereof, it is intended? tlj'iat v'all mattei'contained in the' abov'- description -or shown in the accompanying dra`n'g sh ll be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimit'in'g sense.

The invention having thusb'fi fully-described; the following is"claimed:

1. In a filing structure o'r thejlfile. infeonl'a'iiia` tion: a casing;a drawer supported in saldcasiig for sliding opening and closingmovements; va bowed operating spring positioned rearwardly-of saiddrawer and having itsee'poi-tionsffixedly connected respectively withthe rear endof tl'ie':v drawer and with the casing, said spring stressedto urge the drawer toward open position; a

. flexible string extending along the length of the bight of said springand loosely supported thereby and having extended end portions prolongedbeyond the spring ends and joined together whereby the string forms acomplete loop, the loop being supported solely by said spring and theprolonged portions of the string extending between the drawer and thecasing and providing a limiting stop to check the opening movement ofthe drawer.

2. In a filing structure or the like, in combination: a casing, -adrawer supported in said casing for sliding opening and closingmovements; an elongated coil spring positioned rearwardly of saidKdrawer and having its end portions xedly connected respectively with therear end of said drawer and with a fixed rearward portion of the casing;said spring being of a length greater than the maximum distance betweenthe rear end of the drawer and said fixed portion of the casing wherebythe spring assumes a bight form and when said drawer is closed and theends of the spring are brought closer together the spring is placedunder bending stress and the bight is narrowed to urge the drawer backtowardv open position; a iiexible string threaded through the centralpassageway of saidcoil spring so as to be .freely supported by saidspring, the string having extended end portions prolonged beyond thespring ends and joined together to form the string into a complete loop,the prolonged portions extending between said drawer and the casing toprovide a limiting stop Vmeans to check the opening movement of thedrawer.

3. In a ling structure or the like, in combination: a casing; a drawersupported in said casing for sliding opening and closing movements; Ianelongated coil spring positioned rearwardly of said drawer and havingits end portions xedly connected respectively with the rear end of saiddrawer and with a xed rearward portion of the casing; said spring beingof a length greater than the maximum distance between tlie rear end ofthe drawer yand said iixed portion of the casing whereby the springassumes a bight form and when said drawer is closed and the ends of thespring are brought closer together the spring is placed under bendingstress and the bight is narrowed to urge the drawer back toward openposition; a flexible string threaded through the central passageway ofsaid coil spring so as to be supported by said spring, the string havingextended end portions prolonged beyond the spring ends and joinedtogether to form the string into a complete loop. the prolonged portionsextending between said drawerl and the casing to provide a, limitingstop means to check the opening movement of .the drawer; theconvolutions of said coil spring being open to a degree permitting acertain amount of axial shortening of the spring when the looped stringis tensioned as when the drawer suddenly reaches the outer limit of itsopening movement, whereby the movement of the drawer is checked quietlyand with a cushioning action.

CHARLES J. MANUEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT

